Chapter 65: A Memorable Scene

Not far from Bright Summit, within the territory controlled by the Ming Sect, Abbess Miejue led a group of elite Emei disciples in besieging and executing several followers of the Ming Sect.

“Sister, what are you waiting for? Hurry and finish him off,” Ding Minjun barked at Zhou Zhiruo, who hesitated, uncertainty written across her face.

Her words immediately drew Abbess Miejue’s attention. With a frown, she turned to Zhou Zhiruo and said coldly, “All those of the Demon Sect are scourges of the martial world, and it is the duty of us, as a righteous sect, to eradicate evil and uphold justice. As disciples of Emei, we must shoulder this responsibility. Kill this heretic at once.”

Though Zhou Zhiruo’s heart was heavy with reluctance, she dared not defy her master’s order. “Yes, Master,” she replied.

With a swift movement, she wielded her sword and unleashed a stroke of the Emei sword technique. The blade flashed, and the Ming Sect disciple before her was struck down, his throat cut, dying instantly.

Watching from the side, Ding Minjun’s lips curled into a faint, satisfied smile.

“This is already the third person Zhou Zhiruo has killed. I hope that when we reach Bright Summit, she won’t disappoint our master,” she thought.

Over the past years, Ding Minjun and Jingxuan had both advanced to the first rank of planetary strength. With such power, either of them could sweep through all the martial artists of the realm single-handedly. Yet, despite their overwhelming strength, they had been careful to conceal their abilities at all times, restraining their presence so thoroughly that none of the other Emei disciples had any inkling of their true prowess.

Even Abbess Miejue herself had not the slightest suspicion.

A few days later, Abbess Miejue of Emei and the elite disciples of the other five great sects finally joined forces. Together, the six major sects launched their assault on Bright Summit. In a short span, the Ming Sect’s finest were all but eradicated.

In the end, the remnants of the Ming Sect found themselves besieged by the combined might of the six sects, trapped within the main hall of their headquarters atop Bright Summit.

Inside the grand hall, the surviving core members and elite of the Ming Sect were all wounded and in dire straits. Were it not for the intervention of the Heavenly Eagle Sect, the Ming Sect’s core would have already been wiped out.

“Leader Yin, the elite of the Heavenly Eagle Sect have been nearly annihilated. Why persist in such futile resistance?” Zhang Songxi, one of the Seven Heroes of Wudang, tried to reason with him.

“Hmph! The people of Ming Sect are not cowards who fear death. To protect our sacred flame, we will fight you to the bitter end,” Yin Yewang, master of the Heavenly Eagle Sect, declared with the air of one prepared to die heroically.

“Fourth Hero Zhang, what’s the point of reasoning with these devilish fiends? Today, let us join hands and root out these evil sects once and for all,” Abbess Miejue, ever ruthless and cold, spoke bluntly.

Her words instantly resonated with the members of the six great sects gathered there, and the hall echoed with their battle cries.

“Destroy the Demon Sect! Root out evil to the last!”

“Destroy the Demon Sect! Root out evil to the last!”

Yet faced with the jeers and shouts of their enemies, the wounded Ming Sect disciples showed no fear, having long since abandoned all thought of survival.

“Haha! If we of Ming Sect are the so-called fiends, then what does that make you self-proclaimed righteous sects?” a voice rang out.

“Opportunists, bullies who rely on numbers. One day, the world will mock you for your shame.”

“If you truly have the skill, then step forward and face me, Yin Tianzheng, in single combat!”

“If I lose, then it is Heaven’s will, and the Ming Sect deserves to perish. But if you so-called righteous sects are defeated, then be gone from Bright Summit at once!”

Yin Tianzheng’s words were obviously a provocation, yet it was a challenge that, given their lofty claims to righteousness, the six sects could hardly refuse.

“Abbess, if we simply slaughter the Ming Sect today, our reputations will surely suffer. I suggest we accept Elder Yin’s challenge,” one of the upright heroes suggested, mindful of the importance of reputation among the orthodox sects.

Upon hearing this, Abbess Miejue, who had never held the Ming Sect in any regard, agreed without hesitation.

“Very well. Today, I shall see to it that you fiends of the Demon Sect are utterly defeated—so thoroughly that you have nothing left to say.”